Results 661-680 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (18 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 140 together. The Increased Cost of Business Grant (ICOB) was announced as part of Budget 2024 and will be targeted at Small and Medium sized businesses which operate from a rateable premises. Funding of €250 million will be provided to meet the cost of the grant which will be paid out to businesses through local authorities in the first...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Budget 2024 (18 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: As part of my Department's Estimates negotiations, I secured an increase of €27m on 2023 "REV" levels of €177.3m in capital spending for the IDA in respect of grants to industry and the agency’s property programme bringing the total Exchequer allocation to for 2024 €204.3m. My Department will now work with the IDA on the allocation of the €27m across these...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Budget 2024 (18 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Innovation Voucher Programme is funded by my Department under the Science and Technology Programme, though Enterprise Ireland. The Innovation Voucher Programme is designed to build links between Ireland's public knowledge providers (higher education institutions and research performing bodies) and small businesses and help to create a cultural shift in the small business community's...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (18 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: As part of the allocation to my Department under Budget 2024, I have provided an additional €3.35m in funding to underpin its continued investment in key initiatives to deliver on the Government’s Housing for All Strategy. This is broken down into the following: €2m in additional funding in 2024 will be allocated to fund my Department's contribution to the development...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: National Minimum Wage (18 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Low Pay Commission was established in 2015 as an independent body. It consists of an equal number of representatives with employee interests, employer interests, and independent members. The Commission makes recommendations on the National Minimum Wage to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The National Minimum Wage seeks to find a balance between a fair and sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (18 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Increased Cost of Business Grant (ICOB) was a measure announced as part of Budget 2024. The grant will be paid to Small and Medium sized businesses who operate from a rateable premises. It is intended to be paid at a rate of up to half the enterprise’s commercial rates bill, subject to a prescribed limit. The grant is intended to aid firms but is not intended to directly compensate...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (18 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: Under the Housing for All plan, my Department is working to promote innovation and increased productivity in the residential construction sector, including the more widespread adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). To promote research and development and disseminate the best and most relevant innovations to the players in the construction value-chain in Ireland, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (18 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy may be aware that mining began in Tara in 1977. My Department and its agencies have not provided funding to Boliden Tara Mines during the timeframe in question. Since the Board of Boliden Tara Mines decided to put the company into care and maintenance from 14thJuly 2023, officials in my Department have engaged with management to discuss what assistance can be provided to introduce...

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: 2 o’clock I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on the budget. I will share my time with the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond. We will take roughly ten minutes each.

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I will but it will be ten minutes each. Budget 2024 is primarily a cost-of-living budget. With high energy prices and the ongoing impacts of the war in Ukraine, the measures brought forward in this budget and announced by my colleagues, the Ministers, Deputies Michael McGrath and Donohoe, are designed to cushion the impact of continuing high inflation by increasing the amount of money in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: Some €700 million.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I am heading to Mayo tonight and meeting with businesses tomorrow. I will be able to discuss that with the Deputy and others tomorrow. Additional information not given on the floor of the House IDA Ireland, through its regional property programme, aims to ensure a suitable supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations to meet the needs of current and prospective clients...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: In the first instance, it was not previously committed to but let me explain why, please. As part of a review of the operation of the temporary business energy support scheme earlier this year, it was agreed that my Department would examine the possibility of developing an additional support scheme for businesses that use kerosene and LPG for the purposes of heating their business premises....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is using one isolated case. My job was to look at the entirety of the market at the time and the price increase for LPG in the country. This is what I asked the Department to do and this is what it did do. It came back with the data which showed that there was an 88% increase in the cost of kerosene but only a 19% increase in the cost of LPG during the period. This was,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I appreciate the tenor of the Deputy's question but I just want to say that nobody on this side of the House misled anybody. The reason why I insisted on moving ahead with the kerosene scheme was because I wanted to help businesses across rural Ireland in counties like that of the Deputy and others. There are many hotels, restaurants and so on which are not connected to the gas network and,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Exports Growth (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy might remember, although it seems like a long time ago, that Ireland was in the space of export credit insurance in the past. Following the beef tribunal report, the then Government essentially decided to phase it out. Based on the findings of a review carried out later, the then Tánaiste, Mary Harney, concluded that the insurance exposure levels imposed on the State were...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Exports Growth (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: As I said, we have a policy on enterprise that sets an ambition of expanding Ireland's exporting base by an additional 2,000 companies before the end of this decade. We have, as I stated earlier, extended the mandate of the LEOs. We are trying to get more companies to scale up. Basically, we are trying to build multinationals out of Ireland, as well as to bring multinationals to Ireland...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Exports Growth (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I welcome to the Gallery the young person who is cheering us on up there. Their father is desperately walking around trying to keep them quiet. I thank the Deputy for the question. My Department regularly explores ways to assist businesses and create an environment that stimulates their growth. However, it is important that Government intervention be focused on those areas where there...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: First, Enterprise Ireland's remit has expanded from the end of last year. Until the end of last year, LEOs were only able to support and work with businesses that employed less than ten people. That figure has been increased to less than 50 people for companies that are manufacturing and exporting. If this is an exporting company, we can provide supports because it does not create...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is something that gets raised with me all of the time. The Government recognises that domestically traded sectors account for a significant number of firms in Ireland and, more importantly, for a high proportion of employment across the retail, construction, hospitality, leisure, and many other sectors. They contribute to the economies and...